Consultation Report on the Draft Scottish Marine Regions Order 2013

7. Next Steps

Section 165(5) of the Act states that an order under section 5(5) is not to be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before, and approved by resolution of, the Parliament.

The Scottish Marine Regions Order 2014 establishing SMR boundaries will be laid in Parliament in early 2014, with a view to the Order coming in to force later this year. After the establishment of the Scottish Marine Region boundaries in legislation, an announcement will be made identifying which of the marine regions will begin the creation of a statutory regional marine plan. This will require the establishment of Marine Planning Partnerships.